Camping outfit



H. PUFF.

CAMPING OUTFIT.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-6. 1919.

1,332,635. Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 9 I 3mm //V A W44 Hw uff CAMPING OUTFIT.

APPLICATION FILED AUG- 6, 191-9..

1,332,635, Patehted' Mar. 2, 1920. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- .27 g 5 38 4 7 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY PUFF, F S'I. CLOUD, MINNESOTA.

, CAMPING OUTFIT.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY PUFF, a citi- Cloud, in the county of Stearns and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Camping Outfits, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an improved camping outfit, which may be used by camp-' ing out parties, either those on foot or those traveling in vehicles, such as automobiles and the like.

In fact, a most important object of the invention is the provision of a camping outfit, which includes a table, opposite seats or benches, in combination with means conpresent illustrated and set forth are deemed necting the seats or benches and the table, whereby a rigid structure may be provided.

The invention further aims to provide a table top comprising a pair of sections hingedly united, and which have marginal flanges and also provided with compartments, not only to receive table utensils, but also to receive condiment receptacles, and also a compartment for the reception of the braces or connections between the seats or benches and the table top, whereby the various parts may be arranged in a small provision of a collapsible or foldable camping outfit, including means whereby the bench or seat sections may be clamped together, with the table top sections folded,

and interposed between the bench or seat sections.

A further object of the invention is the provision of improved legs for the support of the bench or seat sections, in combination Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 6,1919. Serial No. 315,717.

With means for holding the legs either folded or extended.

A further object of the invention is the provision of marginal sheet metal flanges carried by the bench or seat sections, to overlap each other, and to overlie the table top sections when folded, to render the camping outfit dust and rain proof, as well as concealing the table top sections when folded.

The invention further aims to rovide a camping outfit, which is simple, e eient and practical in construction, and maybe manufactured for relatively low cost and sold at a reasonable profit, and moreover, to provide a device which may be used as a card preferable, it is obvious that as a result of a reduction of the invention to a more practical form for commercial purposes, the invention may be susceptibleto changes, and the right to these changes is claimed, provided they are comprehended within the scope of what is claimed.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the improved camping outf t folded, and as applied to the running board of an automobile.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the improved camping outfit opened up and the parts arranged in position ready for use.

Fig. 3/is a bottom plan view of Fig. 2,

showing the supporting legs folded against,

the under faces of the seat or bench sections. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view on line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 2, showingthe braces between the table top sections and the seat or bench sections, and showing the connections for the braces, and also illustrating the braces between the bench or seat sections to render them more rigid with relation to the table.

Referring more especially to the draw-.

nccted at 3. The table top sections comprise the elongated table top pieces 4, which are provided with marginal flanges 5, and arranged between the longitudinal flanges of v the table top sections are partitions 6 and 7, thereby dividing theltable top sections into several compartments 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13. The compartment 9 is sub-divided by means of the partitions 14, thereby constructing a plurality of compartments 15, one of which is designed to receive a table cloth (not shown), another to receive condiment receptacles or the like (not shown), while the others are adapted to receive knives, forks and spoons or other similar table articles.

The flanges of the two table top sections, particularly their parts near the ends of the table top sections, are provided with transverse grooves 16, there being sheet metal plates 17 countersunk in the end parts of the flanges and secured in place as indicated at 18, thereby covering the grooves as shown.

When the table top sections are folded,-

the table top pieces 4: contact, and in order to cover the compartments of the table top sections, additional sections 19 are provided. These sections 19 are longer than the table top sections and are not only used as cover sections, but also as bench or seat sections. When the sections 19 are utilized as benches or seats, they are arranged on opposite longitudinal sides of the table top, there being braces 20 between the seat or bench sections and the table top, to reinforce the seats of benches relative to the table. These braces 20 are in the form of iron bars which have elongated bent parts or portions 21 and 22 to enter the channels or grooves'of the end portions of the marginal flanges 5 of the table top sections. In fact, the bent portions 21 and 22 engage in the grooves 16 under the plates 17, and furthermore, the bent portions 21 are long enough to extend acrossthe joint between the table top sections, thereby preventing accidental collapsing of the sections when they are used to form a table.

Secured on the adjacent edges of the seat or bench sections are arched straps 23. In fact, the arches of the straps 23- are arranged coincident to the recesses or notches 2 1 of the adjacent edges of the seat or bench sections. The braces 20 are provided with angularly protruding extensions 25, engagmg between the arches and the notches, thereby connecting the braces securely in position and reinforcing the table top relatively to the seat or bench sections.

Metal straps 26 are secured to-the under faces of the seat or bench. sections and are provided with bearings 27 for the reception of the supporting legs 28. Each support ing leg consists of a single piece of rod material bent to provide groundengaging porby brazing or welding, or in any other suita )le manner as indicated at 32, so that the rod material of the leg is'endless. The legs may be folded against the under faces of the seat or bench sections, or arranged to depend from the seat or bench sections, so that their parts 29 may engage the ground or any other suitable support; Suitable leaf spring arms 33 are secured as at 34 to the under faces of the seat or bench sections, and are adapted to lie fiat against the sections. The free ends of the leaf spring arms are bent to form the U parts 35, which, when the legs depend from the seat or bench sections, are designed to engage the transverse parts of the loops 31, thereby reinforcing 0r bracing. the legs, so as to support the seat or bench sections. However, when the legs are folded flat against the under surfaces of the seat or bench sections, the leaf spring arms 33 overlie the loops 31, thereby holding the legs folded. Also, when the parts of the camping outfit are folded or collapsed, the seat or bench sections 19 are disposed to cover the compartments of the table top sections, and in this case the supporting legs 28 will enter the compartments 8, 10, 11 and 13, so that the seat or bench sections may be engaged fiat against the edges of the marginal flanges of the table top sections.

The under faces of the seat or bench secthe table top sections and contact with each other, thereby making a tight closing fit between the parts.

Sheet metal angle pieces are secured to the seat or bench sections as shown at 37, and the marginal flanges of these sheet metal pieces 38 overlap each other, that is, when the seat or bench sections are disposed in contact with the flanges of the table top sections. Furthermore, the flanges of the sheet metal pieces 38 overlie the marginal flanges of the table top sections, thereby not only rendering the camping outfit dust and rain proof, but also housing the table top sections. Then the parts of the camping outfit are folded or collapsed, suitable bolts 39 are passed transversely through the cleats 36, and through the seat or bench sections, and are provided with wing nuts 40, to clamp the various parts securely together, thereby holding the outfit in a small compass so asto be conveniently carried in an automobile. If necessary, the bolts 39 may the cleats and the seat or bench sections, so

as to fasten the outfit in place, so that it can be very conveniently carried.

Pivoted as at 4:1 to the outer face of one of the seat or bench sections near its opposite ends are the brace rods 42. These rods 42 have right angle extended ends 43 to enter sockets 4% of the opposite seat or bench section, so as to reinforce the seat or bench sections relatively to each other, that is, when the various parts of the outfit are arranged as shown in Fig. 2.

When the various parts of the camping outfit are collapsed or folded, the braces 20 are arranged in the compartment 12, and are held therein by suitable holding members L5 and 46.

In order to reinforce the loops 31, and at the same time render the legs more rigid braces 60 extend from the opposite sides of the legs, and are secured to the opposite portions of the legs in any suitable manner as indicated at 61. For instance, the securing of the braces may be accomplished by brazing or riveting, preferably the former. Furthermore, the braces 60 are brazed or otherwise secured to the loops 31, thereby insuring strength and rigidity.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed as new and useful is:

1. In a camping outfit, the combination with hingedly united table top sections and seat or bench sections arranged upon opposite sides of the table top sections below and in parallel therewith of means extending across the hinged ed es of the table top sections to reinforce t em, said means having braces detachably connecting with the seat or bench sections, and braces connecting the seat or bench sections.

2. In a collapsible camping outfit, the combination with foldable table top sections having their edges hingedly united, of opposite seat or bench sections below and in parallel with the table top sections and provided with collapsible supporting legs, means extending across the hinged edges of the table top section to reinforce them, said means having braces detachably connecting with the seat or bench sections, and transverse braces connecting the seat or bench sections. i

3. In a collapsible camping outfit, the

combination with table top sections having the edges hingedly united and provided with compartments and being foldable whereby the compartments face outwardly, of seat or bench sections adapted, when collapsed, to cover the compartments of the table top sections, said seat or bench sections having foldable legs adapted to support the seat or bench sections upon opposite sides of the table top sections below and in parallel therewith, and also adapted, when folded, to position in certain of the compartments of the table top sections, and means extending across the hinged edges of the table top sections to reinforce them, said means having braces detachably'connecting with the seat or bench sections, when the latter sections are so used.

4. In a collapsible camping outfit, the combination with table top sections, of seat or bench sections hoving foldable legs, braces detachably connecting between the table top sections and the seat or bench sections, said table top sections being hingedly united whereby they may be folded, certain of said braces having means extending across the hinged edges of the table top sections, thereby reinforcing them.

5. In a collapsible campin outfit, the combination with a pair of ta le top sections having compartments, means for hingedly uniting said sections, whereby they may be folded with the compartments facing outwardly, of seat or bench sections having supporting legs, and adapted, when the seat or bench sections are collapsed, to cover the compartments of the table top sections, braces detachably connecting between the latter sections and the table top sections, and means integrally connecting said braces and overlying the hinged joint of the table top sectlons.

6. In a collapsible camping outfit, the combination with a pair of table top sections having compartments, means for hingedly uniting said sections, whereby they may be folded with the compartments facing outwardly, of seat or bench sections having supporting legs, and adapted, when the seat or bench sections are collapsed, to cover the compartments of the table top sections, and braces detachably connecting between the latter sections, when used as seat or bench sections, and the table top sections, said braces having means overlying the hinged joint of the table top sections, said seat or bench sections having cleats adjacent their opposite ends to overlie the ends of the table top sections and to engage each other, said seat or bench sections having sheet metal marginal flanges overlapping each other and overlying the table top sections, thereby concealing the table top sections and also rendering the device proof against foreign matter.

7. In a collapsible camping outfit, the combination with a pair of table top sections having compartments, means for hingedly uniting said sections, whereby they may be folded with the compartments facing outwardly, of seat or bench sections having supporting legs, and adapted, when the seat or bench sections are collapsed, to cover the compartments of the table top sections, and braces detachably connecting between the latter sections, when used as seat or bench sections, and the table top sections, said braces having means overlying the hinged mar I joint of the table top sections, said seat or over ying the table top sections, thereby concealing the table to sections and also rendering the device matter, and means for holding the support- 10 ing legs either depen bench sections or coll In testimony where signature.

proof against foreign ding from the seat or apsed thereagainst. of I hereunto afiix my HENRY PUFF. 

